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After Barca, Real crashed in AC Milan
Sports Desk
06 Nov 2024, 09:10
Photo: Collected
Real Madrid’s struggles continue as they suffered another defeat, this time against AC Milan. Following last week's 4-0 loss to Barcelona at home in La Liga, the defending Champions League titleholders faced a 3-1 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The match started on a sour note for Real, with Milan taking the lead in the 12th minute as Malick Thiaw headed in a corner. Real quickly had a chance to equalize, but Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. couldn’t convert.
Real didn’t have to wait long to level the score, as Vinicius equalized from the penalty spot, momentarily bringing relief to the Bernabeu crowd. However, Milan regained their lead before halftime when Alvaro Morata scored from a rebound after Real keeper Andriy Lunin initially blocked a shot from Rafael Leão.
At the break, Real made two substitutions, bringing on Brahim Diaz and Eduardo Camavinga. The changes spurred Real’s attack, but they couldn’t find the back of the net.
Meanwhile, Milan continued to threaten on counterattacks. Real’s defense weakened as they pushed forward, and Tijjani Reijnders capitalized to make it 3-1 in the 73rd minute. Real thought they had pulled one back in the 81st minute, but Antonio Rüdiger’s goal was ruled offside, leaving Madrid frustrated and defeated with a 3-1 scoreline.
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Lionel Messi's Challenges for 2025
Lionel Messi, the most talked-about player in the football world, has concluded a year filled with success. From winning the Copa America title to being named the best player in the Soccer League and leading Argentina to the top of the World Cup Qualifiers, Messi has had a remarkable year.
Naturally, the legendary footballer will want to continue his streak of success in the new year. However, he faces several challenges ahead. Let's take a look at the hurdles Messi will need to overcome in 2025.
Argentina's World Cup Qualifiers
Although Argentina has no major international tournaments in 2025, they have several crucial matches in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. Messi's performance and leadership will play a vital role in guiding Argentina through the qualifiers.
The current champions will play six matches in the qualifiers this year. Winning just two of these matches will secure their spot in the World Cup.
Retaining the Leagues Cup Title
Inter Miami, led by Messi's extraordinary performance, won the Leagues Cup title in 2023. This year, they will again face the top teams from Liga MX in the same competition. Retaining the title would significantly boost the team's confidence.
Aiming for Success in the Club World Cup
In June 2025, the 32-team Club World Cup will take place in the United States. As the host, Inter Miami will participate in this tournament, providing Messi with a rare opportunity. Winning this title would not only add another feather to Messi's illustrious career but also mark a historic moment for U.S. club football.
Winning the Major League Soccer Cup
In the recently concluded season, Inter Miami was eliminated in the playoffs after losing to Atlanta United. For the new year, Messi and his club's primary goal is to win the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup. The club has already appointed Messi's Argentine teammate Javier Mascherano as their head coach. Their aim is not just to reach the finals but to secure the title.
Conquering the CONCACAF Champions Cup
Inter Miami was knocked out in the quarterfinals of this regional competition in 2024. Under Messi's leadership, they aim to become the first MLS club to win an international title. For this, Messi's full fitness and consistent performance will be crucial.
Additional Challenge: Age and Fitness
In 2025, Messi will turn 38. Maintaining his physical fitness and delivering consistent performances on the field will be challenging. However, given his dedication and capability throughout his career, his fans remain optimistic.
Standing at the twilight of his career, Messi continues to captivate his fans and supporters. As the final chapter of his career unfolds, it remains to be seen how he will illuminate it in the new year.
Ticket Counter Torched and Vandalized Amid BPL Ticket Crisis
The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) continues to be overshadowed by a growing crisis over ticket availability, sparking outrage among cricket fans. On Thursday (January 2), the situation escalated into chaos as frustrated spectators resorted to vandalism and arson at the ticket counter near Mirpur Stadium.
Despite being five days into the tournament, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has failed to resolve the ongoing ticketing issues. Fans, eager to watch the Rajshahi-Dhaka match, began gathering early in the morning at the swimming complex adjacent to the stadium, where tickets were supposed to be sold.
By 11 am, after hours of waiting with no tickets in sight, tensions boiled over. Fans repeatedly attempted to break through bamboo barricades set up around the ticket counter. Around noon, the barricades were breached, and the crowd stormed the swimming complex.
In a show of anger and frustration, parts of the swimming complex were vandalized, and the ticket counter booth was set on fire. Fire service teams promptly responded and managed to extinguish the blaze before it caused further damage.
This incident follows a similar episode on the opening day of the tournament when fans broke through the gates of Mirpur Stadium over ticket shortages. Despite assurances from BCB President Faruk Ahmed to resolve the issue within seven days, no substantial improvements have been made, leaving fans increasingly disgruntled.
The BCB has yet to issue a statement addressing Thursday's incident or providing updates on resolving the ticket crisis.
India Falter Once Again as Australia Holds Upper Hand on Day 1 of Sydney Test
A Rohit Sharma-less Team India found themselves in trouble on Day 1 of the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney on Friday, with the visitors having been bowled out for 185 after opting to bat. Jasprit Bumrah is leading India in the series finale in Rohit’s absence and the pacer said at the toss on Friday that Rohit had “opted to rest” for the game.
Virat Kohli’s (17) struggles with outside off deliveries continued after he was dismissed by Scott Boland, courtesy of a catch by debutant Beau Webster.
At stumps, Australia were 9 for 1 with stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah sending the woefully out-of-form Usman Khawaja (2) back into the hut. Teenage sensation Sam Konstas was unbeaten at 7 after hitting Bumrah for a first-ball four. The 19-year-old also had an animated exchange with the Indian star.
Bumrah opted to bat under overcast conditions and the ultra-defensive approach by Indian batters only compounded their problems with Scott Boland’s (20-8-31-4) immaculate length and tremendous discipline leaving them in a disarray.
Mitchell Starc (18-5-49-3) and Pat Cummins (15.2-4-37-2) were equally relentless giving the Indians no room for release shots. If Rohit’s decision to ”rest” was a forward thinking move, the persistence with Kohli is proving to be detrimental and the the celebrated batter might just have one more Test innings left to save his place in the traditional format.
If one takes away the second innings hundred at Perth out of his last 20 Test innings, Kohli has managed an average of 17.57. He could have been out off Boland’s first delivery but tried to battle hard. However, it has always been that one moment in which his hands and the willow magnetically follow a delivery in the corridor of uncertainty.
Pant curbs natural instincts for a session
Having copped criticism from all quarters for his bizarre shot selection in Melbourne, Rishabh Pant (40 off 98 balls), for a change, copped body blows, trying to curb his natural game. The big-hitter in him came out only on a couple of occasions with one of them fetching him a straight six off Beau Webster.
Pant put his head down and endured nasty blows on his bicep, helmet and twice in the sensitive abdominal area. He and the dogged Ravindra Jadeja (26 off 95 balls) defended dourly as they added 48 off 151 deliveries for the fifth wicket.
Only 50 runs were scored in the second session and trying not to be adventurous proved counter-productive with most batters retreating in a shell letting Boland and company dictate the terms of play. Finally, Pant’s patience ran out and one pull shot too many became his undoing.
India realised they haven’t scored enough runs and lost a lot of wickets. The defensive tactic in the second session when the ball got old ended up costing them dearly. There wasn’t much swing on offer despite cloudy conditions but a decent grass cover ensured that Boland’s back-of-length deliveries proved enough.
As far as Pant was concerned, the ”honest conversations” with head coach Gautam Gambhir seemed to have worked with the southpaw respecting the game situation for the most part. If Pant was disciplined, Shubman Gill’s judgement on the last delivery before lunch did cause trouble for India.
Gill (20 off 64 balls) did all the hard work for close to a couple of hours before stepping out to Nathan Lyon on the last ball of the session only to be caught at first slip. In the morning, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal came in to open the innings but didn’t last long and the saga of first innings failures continued.
BPL Without Shakib is Like Curry Without Salt: Fans Express Disappointment
Shakib Al Hasan, a former Member of Parliament of the Awami League and a suspect in a murder case, remains unable to return to Bangladesh, meaning he will miss this year's Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). As a result, Chittagong Kings are taking to the field without their star player, and many fans are comparing the BPL without Shakib to a curry without salt.
Ahead of Chittagong Kings' third match against Durbar Rajshahi on January 3, supporters of Shakib displayed two posters near Gate 4 of Mirpur Stadium. One poster read: "Shakib, you are the name of victory, don't forget the contribution you made to this country," while the other stated: "A curry without salt and BPL without Shakib are the same."
Shakib's absence is not limited to the BPL, as concerns are also rising regarding his participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy. His inability to return to Bangladesh has cast doubt on his involvement in the international tournament. Additionally, there are ongoing issues regarding his bowling action, with Shakib scheduled to undergo a bowling action test in India in the second week of January.
Former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director and coach, Khaled Mahmud Sujan, expressed his disappointment over Shakib's absence from the BPL, saying, "Shakib is the world's number one cricketer, and his absence is detrimental to the team. The fact that he cannot play for his country is our failure."
Sujan further criticized the situation, noting that Shakib's seven-month stint in politics is being prioritized over his remarkable 17-year cricket career. "He has joined politics. I don't know how much of a crime he has committed, but we are considering his seven months in politics as more significant than his 17 years of cricket career, and that is disappointing," Sujan added.
India Takes the Lead Despite Scoring 185 Runs in 1st Innings!
India was bowled out for 185 runs in their first innings, but the visiting bowlers made a strong impact at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, restricting Australia and securing a first-innings lead.
Australia managed to score only 181 runs in 51 overs, losing all their wickets. This gave India a slim 4-run lead after their own first innings.
Starting the second day's play at 9 for 1, Australia's batters struggled against India's relentless pace attack. Marnus Labuschagne, who remained unbeaten overnight, was dismissed for just 2 runs early in the morning.
Sam Constas tried to build a partnership with Steven Smith but was dismissed by Mohammed Siraj after scoring 23 runs. Siraj also removed Travis Head, leaving Australia reeling at 39 for 4.
Smith and Beau Webster then attempted to stabilize the innings with a 55-run partnership, giving Australia some hope. However, Smith departed for 33, triggering another collapse in the Australian batting lineup.
The middle and lower-order batters failed to capitalize, with only Beau Webster showing resilience. He scored a crucial 57 runs off 105 balls, keeping Australia in the match despite India's slim lead.
Thanks to the heroics of India's pace duo, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, India managed to take control of the game, albeit with a narrow advantage.
Bellingham Redeems, Vinícius Sent Off as Real Tops Valencia
Real Madrid began the new year with a dramatic encounter against Valencia. After conceding an early goal, Vinícius Jr. was sent off for striking the goalkeeper in frustration following provocations. Jude Bellingham missed a penalty but later redeemed himself with a decisive goal, ensuring Real’s victory.
On Friday, January 3, Real Madrid edged Valencia 2-1 in a tense away match. Hugo Duro gave Valencia the lead in the first half, but Luka Modrić equalized with just five minutes left in regular time. In added time, Bellingham netted the winner, helping Real start the year on a high note.
The victory pushed Real Madrid to the top of the table with 43 points from 19 matches. Atlético Madrid, with a game in hand, sits second with 41 points.
Match Highlights:
First Half:
Valencia dominated the opening period, and in the 27th minute, Hugo Duro capitalized on a rebound after Thibaut Courtois managed to parry a shot from Guerra. Despite several attempts by Real Madrid, including long-range efforts from Federico Valverde, Valencia’s goalkeeper Dimitrievski stood firm.
Second Half Drama:
Real Madrid ramped up the pressure in the second half, but repeated fouls disrupted their momentum. In the 52nd minute, referee awarded a penalty after a foul on Kylian Mbappé inside the box. Jude Bellingham’s penalty, however, struck the post, marking his first miss for the Spanish champions.
Mbappé thought he had scored in the 58th minute, but his goal was disallowed due to an offside. The match took a sour turn in the 79th minute when Vinícius Jr. was shown a red card for striking Dimitrievski, following consistent provocations from the opposition.
Real’s Comeback:
Luka Modrić came off the bench to level the score in the 85th minute, finishing a brilliant pass from Bellingham.
In the fifth minute of added time, a defensive error by Hugo Guillamón led to an opportunity for Bellingham. The English midfielder capitalized with a calm finish, sealing the win for Real Madrid.
Despite the chaos, Real Madrid's resilience and determination ensured a thrilling start to their 2025 campaign.
Lionel Messi Receives United States' Highest Civilian Honor
Football icon Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in history, has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honour. This prestigious accolade comes as Messi nears the twilight of his career, following his recent move to the U.S. to play for Inter Miami, where he has already achieved remarkable success.
The award ceremony took place on Saturday, January 4, at the White House, with U.S. President Joe Biden personally presenting the medal to Messi. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions across fields such as culture, sports, politics, and humanitarian efforts.
Messi's recognition highlights his impact beyond the football pitch. While his record-breaking achievements on the field are unmatched, his influence extends into philanthropy, community initiatives, and global inspiration, solidifying his legacy as a transformative figure in sports and society.
Celebrating Excellence: Other Medal Recipients
Messi was among 20 distinguished individuals honoured at the ceremony. The list included leaders, innovators, and cultural icons from diverse backgrounds. Notable recipients included:
Hillary Clinton – Former U.S. Secretary of State
George Soros – Philanthropist and Investor
Jane Goodall – Renowned Primatologist and Conservationist
Magic Johnson – Legendary Basketball Player
Denzel Washington – Acclaimed Actor and Film Icon
Ralph Lauren – Celebrated Fashion Designer
Anna Wintour – Media Mogul and Editor-in-Chief of Vogue
Bill Nye – Science Educator and Advocate ("Bill Nye the Science Guy")
Bono – Musician and Humanitarian for AIDS Awareness
Michael J. Fox – Actor and Advocate for Parkinson's Disease Research
Additionally, posthumous honours were presented to luminaries such as Robert F. Kennedy, Ashton Carter, and Fannie Lou Hamer, recognizing their enduring legacies.
Messi's receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom cements his status not only as a football legend but also as a global ambassador for unity, excellence, and positive change.
